Coin mechanism

ABSTRACT

A mechanically operated and controlled coin mechanism for controlling a latched device in response to a preselected total value of coins inserted into the mechanism. The mechanism sorts out and weighs the coins in accordance with their legal value for mechanically stepping a totalizer mechanism for counting the coins. The totalizer has a single terminal point for all totals to be accumulated and adjustable starting points. The mechanical sensing of the terminal point releases a device controlled by the coin mechanism.

United States Patent [19] Pearson Nov. 25, 1975 l l COIN MECHANISM Rune S. Pearson, 22625 Ellinwood, Torrance, Calif 90505 22 Filed: Dec. 10, 1973 [2l] Appl,No.:423,0S4

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Scr, No. 27l,l73, July 12, l972,

[76] Inventor:

abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. l94/l L; [94/97 R [51] Int. Cl. G07F 5/00 [58] Field of Search 194/103, l L, l K, 97 R,

194/55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 92, 93, DIG. 3, DIG. 15;232/57, 57.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,280,580 4/1942 Harris l94/48 2,957,568 l0/l960 Gabrielsem, H l94/DIG. 3 2,982,389 5/l96l Dietrich i i i l94/97 R 3,028,940 4/1962 Holstein et al l94/94 X $169,625 2/l965 Peterson... l94/l03 X 3,797,626 3/l974 Albright l94/l03 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS l37 543 4/l92l United Kingdom i. l94/Dl(i. 3

Primary Examiner-Robert Bi Reeves Assistant E,ramir:erJoseph J. Rolla Atlurney, Agent, or Firm-Christie, Parker & Hale [57] ABSTRACT A mechanically operated and controlled coin mechanism for controlling a latched device in response to a preselected total value of coins inserted into the mechanism. The mechanism sorts out and weighs the coins in accordance with their legal value for mechanically stepping a totalizer mechanism for counting the coins. The totalizer has a single terminal point for all totals to be accumulated and adjustable starting points. The mechanical sensing of the terminal point releases a device controlled by the coin mechanism.

27 Claims, ll Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 SheetlofS 3,921,779

US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 2 of5 3,921,779

US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 3 of5 3,921,779

U.S. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 4 of 5 at mmm Hilli- US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 SheetS 0f5 3,921,779

com MECHANISM This application is a continuation of my copending application bearing Ser. No. 271,173, filed July l2, 1972, entitled COIN MECHANISM, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a coin mechanism and more particularly to an improved mechanically operated and controlled coin mechanism.

The art of coin mechanisms has been well developed. Various types of coin mechanisms have been developed that are operable on both mechanical and electrical principles. These prior art mechanisms have various features for sorting valid coins from invalid coins and total the value of the valid coins so as to effect the release of some controlled device when the total value of the coins inserted into the mechanism has been accumulated. Various techniques have been developed for sorting out valid coins from invalid coins and for utilizing the valid ones that have been inserted into a mechanism for operating same. Two typical prior art techniques for sorting out coins are disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 2,880,836 and 3,356,197. U.S. Pat. No. 2,880,836 discloses a mechanism for sorting coins on the basis of their diameter while US. Pat. No. 3,356,197 discloses a particular technique for weight testing of coins. De spite the well developed art of coin mechanisms, there is still a need for a reliable, inexpensive coin mechanism and in particular a mechanism that provides a simple means for changing the total value of coins to be accumulated.

The present invention provides an improved coin mechanism that is inexpensive to manufacture, is of greater reliability and comprehends less parts than known prior art mechanically operated mechanisms. The mechanism of the present invention is further adapted to be readily inserted and removed from a controlled device in approximately one minute. The coin mechanism of the present invention utilizes a single entry slot for coins of all values and comprehends a very simple device for effecting the changeover of the total value of coins to be accumulated. The simple changeover means of the presentinvention allows the amounts to be totaled by the coin mechanism to be changed in less than seconds without requiring any additional components for sensing the different total values of coins to be accumulated.

The present invention further has the ability to reject slugs or invalid coins, bent coins, etc. and is virtually jam proof. The coin mechanism comprehends a coin sorting and counting or weighing portion that is enclosed in a clear plastic so that any problem ofjamming or bent coins, or the like, may be located and remedied in the minimum amount of time. The coin mechanism includes an escrow cavity that holds the coins inserted into it until the controlled device is released or the coins are rejected, at which time the coins will fall into a coin box for storage or a reject pocket accessible to the operator. If at any time the operator does not get full credit for coins inserted into the mechanism, or if the controlled device will not operate, the coins are returned to the operator with the operation of the reject or coin return mechanism.

From a structural standpoint the coin mechanism of the present invention is adapted to control the latching and unlatching of a controlled device comprising a housing having a single means for receiving coins of different legal value to be inserted into the mechanism including means constructed and defined for providing a plurality of coin channels to receive and convey coins of different legal values. Means are arranged between said single coin entry means and the plurality of coin channels for sorting the coins inserted into the mechanism on the basis of their diameters to cause the coins to be directed into the individual channels in accordance with the legal value of the coin. A coin weighing or counting means is in the form of swingable means coupled to the housing and adapted to receive the coins from the individual channels at preselected locations to impart a swinging movement thereto in accordance with the weight of the received coin. Mechanical stepping means are coupled to be responsive to the movement of the swingable means to move in increments towards a preselected terminal position for totalizing the movements and thereby the coin values. The preselected position being selected to represent all of the desired total value of coins and having different starting positions for each different total value for releasing a controlled device and including mechanical means for sensing the arrival ofthe mechanical means at the preselected position and for releasing the controlled device in response to sensing the arrival of the mechanical means at the preselected position. The mechanism comprehends a simple means for varying the totals to be accumulated by varying the starting position of the mechanical stepping means.

The coin mechanism of the present invention may include coin reject door means arranged with a coin collecting means for transferring rejected coins to a reject receptacle. Means are provided for defining a rejection coin receptacle for receiving the coins passing through said coin rejection door. Acceptable coin door means is also arranged with said coin collecting means for transferring acceptable coin-s to a coin storage receptacle to render them irretrievable to the operator.

These and other features of the present invention may be more fully appreciated when considered in the light of the following specification and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the coin mechanism embodying the present invention as it may be employed in a dispensing machine;

FIGS. 2 and 2A are a partial, front elevational view with portions shown in dotted outline, of the coin mechanism of FIG. I with the front plate removed for illustrating the coin sorting and weighing sections of the mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a partial, front elevational view of the portion of the coin mechanism illustrated in FIG. 2 with the front plate in position;

FIG. 3A is a detached, perspective view of the stop cam employed in the coin sorting and weighing mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 4 is a partial, elevational and sectional view through the coin sorting section of the mechanism illustrating the clearing system therefor;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the coin mecha' nism with the plates defining the coin separating system removed for illustrating the relationship of the operating mechanisms thereof;

FIG. 5A is an enlarged, partial view of the totalizer changeover mechanism illustrated in FIG. 5:

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, partial view of the structure for sensing the totalizing mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 5A;

FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view of the coin mechanism and illustrating an alternative construction in dot- 3 ted outline; and

FIG. 8 is a right side. elevational view of the coin mechanism illustrated in FIG. 7 with a portion of the side plate broken away.

Now referring to the drawings. the structural organization of the coin mechanism I will be examined. The mechanism 10 is illustrated in FIG. I as it may be used in a dispensing machine for controlling a door providing access to the articles being dispensed. For this pur pose it should be noted that a dispensing machine that may be employed with the coin mechanism of the present invention is disclosed in the copending patent application bearing Ser. No. 249.825, now US. Pat. No. 3.768.695. and resort may be had to that application for the details of the dispensing machine illustrated in FIG. 1. The coin mechanism 10 is illustrated with a coin receptacle ll for receiving the coins to be accumulated in the mechanism. When the mechanism has accumulated the correct value of coins. the coin release bar [2 is operated by means of a release button IZR associated with the door I3 of the vending mechanism for pushing the release button 12 into the mechanism proper for releasing the door 13. A reject bar 14 is also provided in the event an invalid coin is used or if coins of the wrong value are inserted into the mechanism. The operation of the reject bar I4 is adapted to clear the coin mechanism 10 and allows the operator to retrieve his coins. To this end. a coin access door 15 is provided that allows the operator to insert his hand into the coin reject receptacle and retrieve the coins collected therein. As will be discussed more completely hereinafter. the internal mechanism of the coin mechanism provides an interlock that prevents the simultaneous actuation of the release bar I2 and the reject bar 14. The mechanism also includes a clear button 16 which when operated will clear the coin sorting and weighing sections from any jammed coins that may have accumulated therein to allow the mechanism to be operated.

Generally. the coin mechanism 10 of the present invention comprises a coin sorting section for separating the coins inserted into the mechanism as to whether or not they are valid or invalid (slugs) and if valid they are sorted on the basis of their legal value. The sorted coins are weighed on the basis of their legal value for totalizing them. For this purpose the coins are conveyed through coin channels in accordance with their legal value and engage a swingable arm adapted to receive the coins as they emerge from the individual channels if they have been correctly sorted thus swinging the arm an incremental amount related to the legal value of the coin. The swinging movements of the arm are totalized to thereby totalize the coins. The totalizer comprises ratchet pawl means movable in response to the swing ing movements of the arm for mechanically stepping a movable ratchet. The ratchet pawl means is adapted to have a plurality of starting positions and a single tenninal point for all total values to be accumulated. Upon the operation of the release lever the position of the totalizer means will be sensed to determine whether or not the single terminal point has been reached and ifso the controlled device will be released.

The coin sorting and weighing section of the coin mechanism I0 will be first examined. This portion of the mechanism is best appreciated by examining FIGS. 2 and 3. The coin sorting and operating section includes a magnetic sorting section for separating the valid and invalid coins and a coin sorting section arranged in serial relationship therewith for receiving the valid coins that pass through the magnetic sorting section. After the coins are sorted they are distributed through the various channels to a coin weighing section for weighing the coins that are totaled by the totalizer. The coin sorting and weighing section as illustrated in FIG. 2 has the front plate 49 of the coin mechanism I0 removed. The elements shown on the illustrated plate that are crosshatched are projections from the front side of the plate 70, while the components shown in dotted outline are mounted on the back side of the plate 70. The plate 70 may be constructed of a transparent plastic material. The elements projecting from the front of the plate 70 and those mounted on the back side thereof are mounted on a back plate 70B that is spaced from the plate 70 and coacts with the plate 70 to form the coin channels for conveying the coins therethrough. The back plate 70B is illustrated in FIG. 2 in dotted outline. The back plate 708 has a fixed position while both plates 70 and 49 are movable.

The coins inserted into the mechanism are inserted by means of the coin receptacle 1] and are confined by the receptacle to passing through the magnetic sorting section prior to being sorted. The magnetic sorting section comprises a permanent magnet 20 mounted to the back plate 70]! between the projections 2I and 22 defining a coin entry sorting channel and arranged immediately below the coin receptacle II. The permanent magnet 20 may be in the form of a bar magnet which extends approximately to the surface of the plate 70. The permanent magnet is provided with sufficient magnetic strength for catching and holding a ferromagnetic slug. When a ferromagnetic slug is held by the magnet 20, the coin mechanism 10 will become jammed and remain jammed until it is cleared by the movement of the plate 70 away from the magnet as will be made evident hereinafter. Now assuming that a valid coin is inserted into the coin receptacle 1], it will pass through the magnetic sorting section into the coin sorting section which is arranged immediately below the magnetic sorting section as best illustrated in FIG. 2. The coin sorting section comprises a plurality of sorting gates mounted on the back plate 708 for sorting the coins inserted into the coin mechanism 10 in terms of the diameter of the coins. In the illustrated embodiment two coin sorting gates are illustrated for sorting nickels, dimes and quarters. The first coin sorting gate is arranged on the back plate 708 immediately below the magnetic sorting section and is constructed and defined for sorting out 25-cent pieces or quarters. For this purpose. a gate plate 23 is mounted to the back side of the plate 708 on a pivot pin 24. The pivotable plate 23 mounts two sorting pins 25 and 26 and a counterweight 27. The gate plate 23 is of a lightweight construction so as to be swingable in response to the reception of a coin held between the sorting pins 25 and 26 and to return to its original position in response to the counterweight 27 upon the coin becoming separated from the pins 25 and 26. The pins 25 and 26 extend from the back side of the plate 708 through a pair of arcuate slots 28B and 298 provided for the back plate 703 and similar arcuate slots 28 and 29 provided for plate 70 for a distance just short of the height of the projections 21 and 22. The distance between the sorting pins 25 and 26 is governed by the diameter of a quarter so that the quarter will be intercepted and held therebetween. It should be recognized that the distance required for intercepting the 25-cent coin will allow a IO-cent coin. a S-cent coin and a one-cent coin to pass between sorting pins 25 and 26 to the sorting gates arranged inwardly thereof.

The counterweight 27 is arranged on one side of the gate 23 and is proportioned to hold the gate plate 23 in the position illustrated in FIG. 2. The counterweight 27 is also proportioned relative to the weight of a valid 25- cent coin so that the coin will overbalance the gate 23 allowing it to rotate in a clockwise direction about its pivot pin 24. The counterweight 27 is also proportioned so that an aluminum slug is not effective for rotating the gate 23. The rotation of the gate 23 is limited by the path described by the arcuate slots 28 and 29 for the pins 25 and 26. Stated differently, the sorting gate 23 will rotate until the pins 25 and 26 reach the opposite end of their respective slots 28 and 29 and the held quarter is discharged from the gate 23 so as to allow it to roll along a projection 30 illustrated mounted to the immediate right of the extreme end of slot 28. When the 25-cent coin is discharged, it will roll along the projection 30 until it falls into the ZS-cent coin channel formed by the projections 31, 32 and 33. Upon passing through the 25-cent coin channel, the coin will enter the coin weighing section and will be counted as will be described in conjunction with the coin weighing section.

The nickels and dimes that are inserted into the coin mechanism will pass between the sorting pins 25 and 26 and encounter a second gating element 34 mounted on the backplate 708. The gating element 34 mounts a counter weight 35 and a pair of spaced apart sorting pins 36 and 37. The sorting pins 36 and 37 are spaced apart a distance slightly less than the diameter of a valid S-cent coin. The pins 36 and 37 rotate in response to the reception of a nickel in the path defined by the respective arcuate slots 38 and 39 for the plate 70 and the corresponding slots 38B and 398 on the back plate 708 until the pins reach the extremity of the slots as illustrated in dotted outline. When the gate 34 rotates to its extreme position, a S-cent coin held between the sorting pins 36 and 37 is discharged into the S-cent coin channel defined by the projections 31 and 40. The 5- cent coin, then, in traveling between projections 31 and 40 will enter the coin weighing section. Coins smaller than a 5-cent coin, such as a dime, will pass between the sorting pins 36 and 37 into a coin channel formed by the projections 40 and 42 to enter into a coin weighing section. It should now be evident that the nickels, dimes and quarters that are inserted into the mechanism will be separated on the basis of their diameters and weights into the various coin channels for entry into the coin weighing section to allow them to be counted or totaled. In the same fashion, the invalid coins or slugs are held within the magnetic sorting section until the mechanism is cleared to allow proper operation thereof. Although the coin mechanism 10 is constructed to accept nickels, dimes and quarters and sort them out, it will accept pennies but will not totalize them. The diameter of a one-cent piece is smaller than a nickel and slightly larger than a dime so that it will pass through the coin sorting gates and into the dime coin channel where it will be held between projections 42 and 40 at point C until the mechanism is cleared. The distance between projections 40 and 42 at point C is approximately 0.010 inch larger than the diameter of a valid lO-ce nt coin so as to stop any coin which has entered said chute, having a diameter exceeding that of a valid dime by 0.0l l inch or more. Similarly. the distance between projections 31 and 40 at point B is ap- 6 proximately 0.0l0 inch larger than the diameter of a valid S-cent coin and the distance between projections 31 and 32 at point A are 0.0 l 0 inch larger than the diameter of a valid 25-cent coin.

The coin weighing section of the present invention comprises a coin weighing ratchet arm 43 that is pivotally mounted on the frame 71 of the coin mechanism 10 by means of a pivot pin 44. The ratchet arm 43 is provided with a plurality of spaced coin sorting pins 45, 46, 47 and 48 which extend through corresponding arcuate slots 458, 468, 475 and 485 provided in the plate for a distance exceeding the height of the projections 31, 32, 40 and 42 by approximately 0.050 inch. The distance between the ratchet sorting pins 45 and 46 is approximately 0.0 10 inch smaller than the diameter of a valid 25-cent coin so as to hold the coin therebetween when it is received from the ZS-cent coin sorting channel. Similarly, the distance between the sorting pin 46 and the sorting pin 47 is arranged to be 0.0l0 inch less than the diameter of a S-cent coin. In the same fashion, the distance between the pins 47 and 48 is defined as 0.0IO inch less than the diameter of the 10- cent coin. Accordingly, coins smaller than the dimensions of these three coins will fall between the pins of the ratchet arm 43 without being held by the pins and therefore without being accumulated or totaled. In the same fashion, if a valid coin is missorted by the gates into a larger size coin channel, it will pass between the sorting pins of the ratchet arm 43 without actuating it and will not be counted; i.e.. the operator will not receive credit for these coins in the accumulating procedure.

It should be noted that the reason for using round pins 26, 25, 36 and 37 to sort coins instead of bent metal as disclosed in the prior art is that the coins with serrated edges tend to jam in the sorter as is the case with a quarter or tend to ride the edge of the sorter and thus missort as is the case with dimes. Using round pins for elements 45, 46, 47 and 48 is also necessary to get the coins to release properly when they encounter an ejection block. If these pins were not round we could not space the pins only 0010 less than the diameter of a valid coin as coins would jam, particularly those with serrated edges. Thus, pin spacing would have to be much closer thereby allowing smaller slugs to be counted.

The ratchet arm 43 is provided at one end. the right hand end, as illustrated in FIG. 2 with a counterweight 50 to maintain the ratchet arm 43 in its normal position for receiving coins to be totalized, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The weight selected for the counterweight 50 is such that the coin caught between any of the ratchet sorting pins 45 through 48 will cause the ratchet arm 43 to rotate or swing counterclockwise the correct amount for counting the value of the coin that is held between the pins. Each coin channel is also provided with an ejection block, such as the block 51 arranged in the path of a coin conveyed through the 25-cent channel. for receiving the coins hald between the pair of pins and ejecting the coins out of engagement with the ratchet art pins 45 and 46. In the same fashion, the 5-cent channel is provided with an ejection block 52 and the IO-cent channel is provided with an ejection block 53. The amount of rotation of the ratchet arm 43 with a held coin is fixed by the distance of the ejection blocks 51, 52 and 53 are spaced from the arm. When the held coin is ejected from between the ratchet pins the movement of the ratchet arm is stopped. As is evident from examining FIG. 2, the angle of rotation of the ratchet arm 43 for a coin held by the pins 45 and 46 is of a greater angular length than the channels for the S-cent and l-cent coins. The shorter distance between the ejection block 52 and the ratchet arm 43 is provided for the S-cent channel as is evident from examining FIG. 2.These distances assure the appropriate amount of movement to total the correct value of the held coin.

It was found necessary to limit the total travel of the ratchet arm 43 in the case of a S-ccnt coin by providing a fixed end point to the travel of the arm that was unaf fected by the greater momentum developed by a -cent coin. This was found necessary since the ratchet arm 43 did not stop at a sufficiently constant point even when a S-cent coin was ejected from the arm 43 by the ejection block. For this purpose a stop cam 38 is provided and is pivotably mounted to the front plate 48 by means of pivot pins 37. The stop cam 38 is illustrated arranged in the S-cent channel. The opposite end of the stop cam 38 normally rests against the respective ejection block 52 as best illustrated in FIG. 3. A detached stop cam is illustrated in FIG. 3A. With this relationship, the pins 45-48 for the ratchet arm 43 are free to move the full distance of their restraining slots 45S 485. When the 5-cent coin. for example. is being totaled by the ratchet 43, the nickel will engage the side of the stop cam 38 pushing the stop cam to the left as illustrated so that the ratchet pin 47 will engage the extension 38T for the stop cam 38 when it moves downwardly in the slot 475. The stop cam 38, then. will provide a definite terminal for the travel of the ratchet arm and will not allow it to continue to erroneously record the value of the coins. Two further stops 62A and 628 for the stop cam 38 of the S-cent channel are provided adjacent the cam at the coin entry end of the S-cent channel so as to limit the maximum travel to the left and right of the stop cam 38. While stop cam 38 normally rests against ejection block 52, it would not do so once the clearing process is at its maximum. Without 628, stop cam 38 would then override ejection block 52.

It should be noted that FIG. 3 shows the mechanism of FIG. 2 with the front plate 49 over the components defining the coin sorting section illustrated in FIG. 2. The extensions at the lower end of the front plate 49 hold the coins from prematurely disengaging from the ratchet arm 43. The front plate 49 is mounted to the assembly by means of a fastener 36 which fixes the front plate 49 to the clearing mechanism clearing pin 16.

The clearing mechanism is best appreciated from examining FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows a section through the clearing system for the coin mechanism 10. This clearing system is operated by means of the clearing pin 16. The clearing system comprises the back plate 708 mounted to the frame 7] for the mechanism 10. The spacing between frame 71 and the back plate 708 is maintained by a spacer 72 secured to the frame 7! by means of a fastener 73. The spacer 72 is secured to the back plate 703 by means of the fastener 74. A plate 70 which also serves as a stripper plate is slidably mounted to the clearing pin 16 independent of the back plate 708 using a tubular bearing. A tubular bearing 76 is constructed integral with the frame 71 for receiving the clearing pin 16 to allow it to slide along the tubular bearing 76 when the pin is moved inwardly by exerting pressure at the pin head 16H. The pin 16 moves back to its normal position due to the spring 82 mounted on the pin 16 between the head 16H and the plate 7!. The clearing pin 16 holds the front plate 49 in its normal position as a result of being secured to the pin 16 by means of a fastener 36. The front plate 49 in turn holds plate against back plate 708. In its normal position, front plate 49 rests against projections 21, 22. 30, 3], 32, 33, 40 42, etc. of back plate 708. Mounted to the plate 708 are the coin gates 23 and 24 described hereinabove and the associated projections illustrated in FIG. 4 as the element P. These coin gates 23 and 24 extend through the matching apertures in the stripper plate 70 to almost touch the front plate 49. The various projections touch plate 49. The space between the plate 70 and the front plate 49 form the coin channels described hereinabove.

The clearing pin 16 also mounts a snap ring 78 for controlling the length of travel of the clearing pin 16 before plate 70 moves outward. The back plate 708 mounts a spacing post 80 which is secured thereto by a screw 79 and in turn mounts a snap ring 81.

The function of the clearing pin I6 is to allow the clearing or release of coins that are jammed in the coin channels. The jamming may occur as the result of a coin being inserted in the mechanism 10 other than coins of the desired value or slugs which jam the mechanism. Clearing is performed by the operator by pushing the clearing pin 16 at the heat 16 towards the right as illustrated in FIG. 4 so as to separate the three plates 70B, 70 and 49 to allow the space therebetween to be substantially increased from that illustrated to allow the jammed coins to fall free to the bottom of the coin mechanism 10. The space between the front plate 49 and the stripper plate 70 is increased by the distance provided between the back of the stripper plate 70 and the snap ring 78 for the stop pin 16. The space between the stripper plate 70 and the back plate 70B is increased by the distance between the stripper plate 70 and the snap ring 81 on the stop pin 80. As a result of operation of the clearing pin 16, the width of the coin channels is doubled and the channels are pulled free of all projections such as for the gate 23 allowing all of the jammed coins, slugs, etc. to fall free. When the clearing pin 16 is released, the plates 70 and 49 return to their normal working relationship as illustrated.

The swinging movement imparted to the ratchet arm 43 as the result of receiving the various coins at the pins 45-48 are accumulated by means of a totalizer arranged immediately adjacent thereto for coaction therewith. For this purpose the ratchet arm 43 mounts a movable ratchet pawl 54 which is coupled to the ratchet arm 43 at a pivot pin 55. The ratchet pawl 54 is adapted to be raised a preselected amount in response to the swinging movement of the ratchet arm 43 resulting from the reception of coins of the correct value at the ratchet arm 43. For example, in one practical embodiment. the ratchet pawl 54 is adapted to move 0.050 inch for each 5-cent increment of the coin value received by the ratchet arm 43. For this purpose the ratchet pawl 54 will engage a movable ratchet 56 which slides on a guide 57. The ratchet 56 is held in its last position to which it has been advanced through the provi sion of a stationary pawl 588. The teeth on the ratchet 56 are spaced 0.050 inch apart to match the 5-cent movement of the ratchet pawl 54. The ratchet 56 is reset to a preselected starting position by lifting both pawls 54 and 58S from the ratchet 56 as will be evident immediately hereinafter. At the lower end of ratchet 54 there is a counterweight 54C; see FIG. 2. This provides sufficient weight to keep the top part of pawl 54 pressed against the teeth of ratchet 56 so that when a 9 coin is counted, the ratchet 54 does not jump any teeth yet the counterweight 54C is not heavy enough to interfere with the return of the totalizing arm 43 to its starting position.

The stationary pawl 585 of the totalizing mechanism is carried on a pawl release plate 113 which is adapted to rotate on the pivot pin 44. The pawl release plate 113 is normally maintained against the outboard bearing member 102 for the reject bar 14 by a pawl release return spring 114. The pawl release spring 114 is connected between the main frame 90 by means of a fastener 115 and to the lower end of the pawl release plate 113. When the reject bar 14 is pushed inwardly it causes the pawl release plate 113 to be rotated counterclockwise and thereby causes the ear 113a mounted with the pawl release plate 113 to lift both the stationary pawl 58S and the movable pawl 54 from the ratchet 56 allowing the ratchet to fall back to the totalizing starting position determined by the ratchet stop 117. The pawl release plate 113 also carries a pin 1 18 which extends through the slot in frame 71 for coaction with the reset lever 120. The reset lever 120 operates with the operation of the controlled device so as to rotate the lever 120 counterclockwise about its bearing pin,

121. The movement of the reset lever 120 causes the pin 118 to be pushed in a downwardly direction in the slot 122. The movement of the pin 118 causes the pawl release plate 113 to be rotated and thereby resetting the totalizer ratchet S6 to its starting position as mentioned hereinabove.

An important aspect of the present invention is the ease with which a price changeover may be accomplished for accumulating the different total values of coins. For this purpose the coin mechanism of the present invention is simplified in that the same terminal point is employed for all of the preselected total values to be sensed. This same terminal point is employed with different starting points in accordance with the selected total value for operating the mechanism. It should be evident that the terminal point is represented by the position of the pawl release plate 948 so that if it moves to the right as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, it will sense the ear 56a in that position only when the correct total has been accumulated. Accordingly, the starting point of the ratchet 56 is set by the ratchet stop 117. The ratchet stop 117 is carried on a stop shaft 131 which slides on the stop adjustment block 132. The top of the stop shaft 131 is bent in a direction to engage the stop screws at the recess 1330 for the screw 133; see FIG. 5A. The stop screw 133 will be positioned a preselected distance above the top of the block 132 in accordance with the total value to be sensed. Normally the stop block 132 will carry a plurality of stop screws 133, each having a slotted opening 1330 that will set the starting point of the totalizer mechanism in accordance with the longitudinal extent of the screw above the block 132. In FIG. 5A, the stop screw 133 is illustrated with a second stop screw 133b having a recessed top 1336 and having a different length than the screw 133 to accumulate a different total. When such stop screws are employed, different total values may be set by merely moving stop shaft 131 into engagement with either of the slots 1330 or 133C. The position of the stop block 132 is located by means of the fastener 134. The initial adjustment of the totalizing system is made by arranging the ratchet stop 117 to the stop shaft 131 at the appropriate position by means of fasteners 135. Further adjustments in total values to be accumulated may be 10 made by threading the stop screws 133 or 1331) into or out of the block 132 to vary the height of the screws above the block and thereby the starting point for the total value to be accumulated.

At this point it should be noted that the release bar 12 and the reject bar 14 are independently operated. It has been found advantageous to provide an interlock between these bars to prevent the simultaneous operation of both the release bar 12 and the reject bar 14. Such an interlock also prevents the operation of the reject bar 14 while the controlled device is unlocked or in a released condition as the result of accumulating the correct total value of coins. These functions are performed by an interlock bar 123 which is carried by the bearings 123U and 123L provided at the opposite ends of the bar. For the purposes of locking out the reject bar 14, the release bar 12 is provided with a pin 92 which limits the travel to the left in FIG. 5 of the release bar 12. When the release bar 12 is pushed inwardly of the mechanism 10. the pin 92 will engage an inclined surface 123] on the interlock bar 123 to cause the bar to be raised approximately one-eighth inch. With the release bar 12 in this position. the shoe [23S carried on the opposite end of the interlock bar 123 will interfere with the stop pin 104 provided for the reject bar 14 in theevent an attempt is made to operate the reject bar thereby locking out of the reject bar 14. If the reject bar 14 is operated prior to the operation of the release bar 12, the pin 104 for the rejection bar will lock the interlock bar 123 in its downward position as illustrated in FIG. 5, causing the inclined surface 123] to interfere with the motion of the release bar pin 92 and thereby lock out the release bar 12. The upper end of the interlock bar 123 carries a shoe 123K which is engaged by the door lock 98 when the door lock is in either the latched position or held in an upward position by the catch entrance door 124 while it is closed. At this time the shoe 1235 at the bottom end of the interlock bar 123 will prevent movement of the reject bar 14 by interferring with the pin 104.

Now referring to FIG. 5, the release and rejection operations for the coin mechanism 10 will be described. In FIG. 5 the coin mechanism 10 is illustrated with the plates forming the coin sorting system omitted for purposes of clarity. The release bar 12 protrudes outwardly of the front face of the coin mechanism 10 to allow it to operate in conjunction with some controlled mechanism for pushing it into the coin mechanism 10 proper. The release bar 12 is mounted on the main frame and has its inner end supported by the apertured bearing member 91 to allow it to slide back and forth in the main frame 90 and apertu red member 91 in response to being moved to the right as illustrated. The release bar 12 mounts a stop pin 92 adjacent its outer end and just inside the main frame 90. A release lever 93 is hinged to the release bar 12 by means of a pin 94. This allows the release lever 93 to pivot clockwise around the pivot pin 94. The release lever 93, in turn. carries a release pawl 948 which is hinged to the lever 93 by the pin 95. The release pawl 948 is adapted to slide back and forth on the pawl shelf 96 as the release bar 12 is translated in its bearings. Prior to totaling the desired value of coins on the totalizing mechanism pushing the release bar 12 inwardly will cause the release bar 12 and the elements involved therewith to move back and forth in the main frame 90 without producing the desired releasing action of the controlled device. If the correct value of coins are totaled and the correct total is sensed, pushing the release bar 12 will cause the release pawl 948 to engage an ear 56a provided for the ratchet 56 thus stopping the release pawl 945 from further movement inwardly. The interengagemerit of the release pawl 94S and the ear 560 indicates that the correct total value of coins have been accumulated and sensed. The ear 56a for the ratchet 56 is provided with a back up fastener 97 so as to prevent bending of the ratchet car 560 due to the pressure exerted by the release pawl 94S. Further motion of the release bar 12 will cause the release lever 93 to rotate about its pin 94 to lift the door lock 98 for releasing a controlled device. The door lock 98 carries a pin 99 which extends through a slot in the frame 71 to the latching system illustrated in FIG. 7 and will be described hereinafter. Upon the release of the release bar 12 by the operator, the release bar 12 and the elements responsive thereto are returned to their original starting position by means of tension spring 100 having one end secured to the pivot pin 94 and the opposite end secured to the frame by means of a fastener 101 as illustrated in FIG. 5.

The reject bar 14 is arranged with the main frame 90 in the same general fashion as the release bar 12 and is mounted below the bar 12, as illustrated in FIG. 5. The inner end of the reject bar 14 is slidably mounted for reciprocation in the apertured bearing member 102. The reject bar 14 is provided with an elongated slot 140 through which extends a pin 103 arranged for operating the clearing pin 16" (See FIG. 7). The reject bar 14 also mounts a stop pin 104 adjacent its outer end which extends from both sides of the reject bar 14. The stop pin 104 is effective for limiting the travel of the reject bar 14 to its outer position, or to the left, as illustrated in FIG. 5. The stop pin 104 is also effective for operating a coin reject door 105 which allows the coins that have been accumulated in an escrow compartment 107 for the mechanism 10 to fall into a coin reject compartmcnt 106. The reject door 105 is opened when the reject bar 14 is pushed inwardly of the mechanism 10 so that the pin 104 engages the extension 105e of the reject door 105 and causes the door to rotate about its shaft 106; see FIG. 7. The door 105 will rotate in a clockwise direction (see FIG. 5) to allow the coins accumulated in the escrow compartment 107 to drop into the coin reject compartment 106. It should be noted that there is approximately one-eighth inch distance between pin 104 and extension 105e of the reject door (see FIG. 7). This is necessary so that ratchet 56 is reset to its set starting point before any coins are returned to the customer. This is a major advantage of this totalizer method. i.e., the ratchet 56 is always reset to its starting point regardless of the distance it must travel during the first one-eighth inch of travel of the reject bar 14.

The escrow compartment 107 is defined by the coin reject door 105 and the coin accept door 108 defining a triangular pocket for receiving and storing the coins that are passed beyond the ratchet arm 43 of the coin totalizing mechanism. Also, when the reject bar 14 is pushed far enough inwardly of the main frame 90 to cause the pin 103 to engage the opposite end of the slot 14a, it will cause a clearing shaft 109 to be rotated in its bearings 110 and 111; see P10. 7. The upper end of the clearing shaft 109 mounts a flag 112 which is adapted to be rotated into engagement with and to push the clearing pin 16!! for clearing the coin channels in response to the operation of the reject bar 14.

It should now be evident that the coins that have made their way through the coin sorting sections and the coin weighing sections are in an escrow cavity 107 formed between the coin reject door and the coin accept door 108. These two doors 105 and 108 are held against a stop by means of coil springs 126 and 127 for the coin reject door 105 and the coin accept door 108 respectively. The coin reject door 105 and its spring 126 are fixed to the shaft 106. The coin accept door 108 and its spring 127 are fastened to the shaft 128. The shafts 106 and 128 pass through the plate 71. With the opening of the coin reject door 105, the coins are deposited in the coin reject compartment 106. When the reject door 105 is moved inwardly by the operator, he is able to retrieve the coins accumulated therein. The coin reject compartment 106 is provided with a projecting shelf 129 angularly extending from an inner wall thereof to function as a stop for the coin return door 15 closing off the reject door 105 and preventing access to the escrow compartment 107. The shelf further prevents the insertion of any device that might hold the reject door 105 in an open condition for accumulating all of the coins that arrive at the escrow cavity 107. It should be evident that with the opening of the accept door 108, the coins from the escrow cavity fall into a coin box 130. The coin box may be secured to prevent entry or unauthorized access by the operator.

The reset lever 120 is operated in response to the release and operation of the controlled device. When the coin mechanism 10 is utilized in combination with an article dispensing device of the type disclosed and claimed in the aforementioned patent application bearing Ser. No. 249,825, now US. Pat. No. 3,768,695 the reset lever 120 will be operated in response to the access door for the dispensing device disclosed in said patent application. For the purposes of the present inven tion the operation of the reset lever 120 is illustrated in FIG. 7 as it would be utilized in the dispensing device of said copending patent application. An alternate construction is illustrated in FIG. 7 in dotted outline for producing the release of access door lock 98. It should be noted that the structures illustrated in FIG. 7 find correspondence in the structures disclosed in FIGS. 3 and 6 of the application bearing Ser. No. 249,825, now US. Pat. No. 3,768,695. For the present, the reset lever 120 operation will be described as illustrated for releasing the dispensing device of said copending application. Accordingly, when the access door (door 14 as illustrated in FIG. 3 of said application) is opened, the resulting motion is transmitted to the reset lever 120 at point 120? for rotating it counterclockwise about its bearing pin 121. The rotation of the reset lever 120 pushes the pin 118 downwardly in the slot 122 and rotates the pall release plate 113 and thereby resets the ratchet 56 to its starting point. Also, the motion of the reset lever 120 is translated to the accept door 108 allowing the coins held in the escrow cavity 107 to drop into the coin box 130. This results from the provision of an accept door secured to the accept door shaft 128 by means of a fastener 141 as illustrated in FIG. 7. The arm 140 translates the motion of the reset lever 120 by means of the accept door link 142 mounted between the reset lever 120 and the door arm 140 by the respective bearing pins 143 and 144. With the operation of the reset lever 120, a lock release lever 145 carried on bearing pin 146 is rotated counterclockwise on the pin 146. With the rotation of the lock release lever 145, a catch entrance door lock 147 will move toward the center plate of the main frame (see FIG. 8) under the urging of the flexure spring 148. The ear 147 a on the door lock 147 penetrates a slot 150 in the frame 71 and interferes with the opening of the catch entrance door. The catch entrance remains locked as long as the access door is open thus preventing screwdrivers and other objects from being inserted inside the coin mechanism 10. For the purpose of releasing the access door lock 98 when employing the coin mechanism in the dispenser of the aforementioned application, Ser. No. 249,825, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,768,695, a lock latch 151 mounted for rotation on the bearing pin 146 is provided. When the access door lock 98 is raised in response to the operation of the release bar 12, the pin 99 carried by the lock 98 is raised so that the lock latch 151 will move into engagement with the pin 99 at the locking notch 1511. and thereby latch the lock 98 in the upward position. A similar latching operation is described in conjunction with the description of FIG. 5 of application Ser. No. 249,825, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,768,695. As described in that application, the lock latch 151 is reset by the flag 13F on the shaft 13R by moving the latch 151 out of engagement with the pin 99.

It should now be evident that after the access door lock 98 is latched in its upward position by the lever 15], the access door catch (illustrated in dotted outline in FIG. 5) will have been released and can be withdrawn from the coin mechanism 10. As the door catch is withdrawn, the catch entrance door 124 shuts under the urging of a coin spring 152 (see FIG. 8). Further motion of the door and reset lever 120 will move the lock release lever 145 so that the lock 147 can penetrate through the frame 71 and prevent the opening of the entrance door 124. The reverse sequence of operation occurs when the access door is closed. To this end, when the article has been withdrawn by the customer, the lock latch 15] is released so that the door lock 98 will rest on the top of the catch entrance door 124. When the access door is almost closed, the lock release lever 145 has lifted the catch entrance door lock 147 so when the door catch enters the coin mechanism 10 the entrance door 124 will swing open in response to the pressure exerted by the door catch. The opening of the entrance door 124 will allow the lock 98 to fall and engage the door catch thereby locking it to the coin mechanism, once again.

In the alternate construction illustrated in FIG. 7 in dotted outline, the lock latch 151 is released without reference to withdrawal of an article by the customer as described in Ser. No. 249,825, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,768,695, and in particular to the resetting of the lock. In the alternate embodiment, the element 151 is omitted and replaced by a latch release rod 160 and lock latch 161. In this embodiment when the access door lock 98 is raised in response to the operation of the release bar 12, the pin 99 is raised so that the lock latch 16] can rotate on its bearing pin 146 to latch the lock 98 in its raised position. The lock latch 161 remains in this latched position until reset by fully opening the access door so as to depress the reset lever 120 to an extent to cause the collar 162 mounted on the latch release rod 160 to engage the lock latch 161 and rotate it out of engagement with the pin 99, thereby releasing it.

What is claimed is:

l. A coin mechanism comprising a housing having means for inserting coins therein, means for receiving and sorting the coins in accordance with their legal value,

14 means for receiving the coins and producing increments of movement in accordance with the weight of the coins, ratchet means coupled to said receiving means to be movable in response to the movement of the receiving means for totalizing same,

means for setting the starting point of the ratchet means in accordance with a desired total value of coins,

said ratchet means being movable to the same preselected location for each preselected total value of coins, and

manually operated means for sensing the arrival of the ratchet means at the same preselected location to release a controlled device only in response to the sensing of the arrival of the ratchet means at said preselected location.

2. A coin mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said sensing means is operative for releasing a controlled device by engaging the ratchet means when it has been moved to the preselected location.

3. A coin mechanism for controlling the latching and unlatching of a controlled device comprising a housing having single means for allowing coins of different legal value to be inserted therein,

means constructed and defined for providing a plurality of individual coin channels to receive coins of the same legal value, means arranged between said single means and said plurality of channels for sorting the received coins on the basis of their diameters to cause the coins to be directed into the individual channels in accordance with the legal value of the coin, swingable means coupled to the housing and receiving the coins from the individual channels at different preselected assigned locations thereon in accordance with the legal value of the coin to impart a swinging movement thereto only in response to a coin of the correct legal value impinging at the correct assigned location and producing a swinging movement in response to and in accordance with the weight of the received coin, a coin of the incorrect legal value not being effective to impart a swinging movement to the swingable means,

mechanical means coupled to be responsive to the swinging movements of said swingable means to move in increments from a preselected starting position towards a a preselected terminal position for totalizing same and thereby the coins. the preselected terminal position being the same position selected to represent any desired total value of coins and having a different starting position for the different total values for releasing a controlled device, and

manually operated means for sensing the arrival of the mechanical means at the preselected terminal position and for releasing a controlled device in response only to the sensing of the arrival of said mechanical means at the preselected terminal position.

4. A coin mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said sensing means is operative for releasing a controlled device by engaging the mechanical means only when it has been moved to the preselected terminal position.

5. A coin mechanism as defined in claim 4 wherein the mechanical means comprises ratchet pawl means and includes means for varying the starting position of 15 said means to start the totalizing operations in accordance with preselected total coin values.

6. A coin mechanism as defined in claim wherein said mechanism includes coin collecting means for receiving the valid and invalid coins inserted into the mechanism and conveyed therethrough.

7. A coin mechanism as defined in claim 6 including coin reject door means arranged with said coin collecting means for transferring rejected coins to a reject receptacle, means for defining a reject coin receptacle for receiving the coins passing through said coin reject door, coin accept door means arranged with said coin collecting means for transferring acceptable coins to a coin storage receptacle and coin storage means for receiving the coins passing through said coin accept door means.

8. A coin mechanism as defined in claim 7 wherein the reject coin receptacle is accessible to the operator for retrieving the coins therein and the coins received in the coin storage means are inaccessible to the operator.

9. A coin mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said means defining the coin channels comprise spaced apart walls and includes means for uniformly moving the walls apart to provide clearance throughout the mechanism for clearing any coins jammed therebetween.

10. A coin mechanism comprising a housing having means for inserting coins therein,

means for receiving and sorting coins inserted in the housing according to their legal value, said means including means for sorting valid from invalid coins,

means for receiving the sorted coins and being movable in increments only in response to the reception of coins of correct legal value for totalizing the value thereof, said means being adjustable for changing the starting point for totalizing the coins to preselected total values and having a single end point for all selected total values,

means for sensing the arrival of the totalizing means at a single end point of the totalizer means and for releasing a controlled device only in response to the sensing of the arrival of said totalizer at said end point and operable by the mechanism operator,

means responsive to the release of the controlled device for resetting the totalizer means,

a first coin storage means,

said resetting means including means for conveying the totalized coins into the first coin storage means through the totalizing means,

reject means operable by the mechanism operator for rejecting invalid coins and valid coins of the incorrect legal value from operating the totalizing means and coupled to the totalizing means for resetting same to its starting point upon operation of same, a second coin storage means, and means coupled to be responsive to the operation of the reject means for conveying the coins inserted into the mechanism to the second coin storage means.

11. A coin mechanism as defined in claim 10 including means for clearing the mechanism throughout in the event coins are jammed therein.

12. A coin mechanism as defined in claim 10 including interlock means coupled between said release 16 means and said reject means for preventing the simultaneous actuation of both of said means.

13. A coin mechanism comprising a housing having a single aperture for inserting coins of preselected legal values therein,

means constructed and defined for providing individual coin channels for receiving and conveying coins only of preselected legal values means for sorting the coins according to their legal value and conveying them into the corresponding individual channel for coins of the same legal value,

totalizing means receiving the coins of the correct legal value from each of the individual coin channels and being mechanically movable for totaling the legal value of only the coins of the correct legal values, said totalizing means being adjustable for indicating preselected different total coin values and having a preselected total position for all preselected totals and a starting position dependent on the preselected total to be sensed,

release means operable by the mechanism operator for releasing a controlled device in response to the correct total of coins being inserted into the mechanism and in response to the sensing of the arrival of the totalizing means at said total position by the release means,

coin storage means for receiving the coins inserted into the mechanism housing conveyed through said totalizing means, and

resetting means coupled to be responsive to the operation of said release means for resetting said totalizing means to its starting position and conveying the coins to said storage means.

14. A coin mechanism as defined in claim 13 wherein the sorting means includes means for serially receiving coins of different legal value and sorting them on the basis of their diameter for conveying them to the corresponding individual channel for coins of said value.

15. A coin mechanism as defined in claim 13 including a second coin storage means and reject means operable by the mechanism operator for conveying any coins, valid or invalid, into the second coin storage means in response to the operation thereof, said reject means including means coupled to be responsive to the operation of the reject means for resetting the totalizing means to its selected starting position.

16. A coin mechanism as defined in claim 15 wherein said second coin storage means is accessible to the mechanism operator to allow him to retrieve his coins.

17. A coin mechanism as defined in claim 15 including means for sorting invalid coins from the valid coins inserted into the housing.

18. A coin mechanism as defined in claim 17 including means operable by the mechanism operator for clearing the mechanism throughout from invalid and/or jammed coins.

19. A coin mechanism as defined in claim 15 including interlock means coupled between said release means and said reject means for preventing the simultaneous actuation of both of said means.

20. In a coin mechanism comprising a housing having a single aperture for inserting coins of different legal value therein,

means constructed and defined for providing a plurality of individual coin channels to receive coins of the same legal value wherein each channel receives 17 coins of different legal value from any other channel,

means for sorting coins of different legal value inserted into said aperture in accordance with their legal value and distributing the coins into the correct coin channel, swingable means receiving the coins as they exit from the individual channels for swinging an amount related to the legal value of the coin only in response to the receipt of a coin of the correct legal value from the correct individual channel, said means including a plurality of coin-arresting means spaced apart preselected distances for receiving and momentarily holding the coins in accordance with their diameters to impart movement to said means in accordance with their weight only when a coin of the correct legal value is engaged by the arresting means, mechanical stepping means coupled to be responsive to the movements of the swingable means for totalizing the movements of the swingable means, said mechanical means having a preselected terminal point for all total coin values to be accumulated by the mechanical means and including means for selecting and defining a plurality of starting points for the coin accumulation in accordance with the desired total coin value to be accumulated, and

manually operated means for sensing the arrival of the mechanical means at the terminal point of the mechanical means to release a controlled device only in response to the arrival of the mechanical means at said terminal point.

21. In a coin mechanism as defined in claim 20 wherein the coin-arresting means are round pins.

22. In a coin mechanism as defined in claim 20 wherein the sorting means comprises a plurality of counter-balanced swingable gates arranged to receive coins in a sequential relationship as they are inserted into the mechanism, each gate carrying a pair of pins spaced apart a preselected distance for receiving and holding a coin of a preselected diameter, the spacing of the pins for each gate decreasing with the increase of the distance the coins travel through the mechanism, the gate holding a coin of the correct legal value being rotated in response to the presence of the coin between the pins thereof until the gate is swung to a position to allow the coin to be released therefrom and thereby be distributed into the correct coin channel.

23. In a coin mechanism as defined in claim 22 wherein the stepping means comprises a movable ratchet and ratchet pawl means coupled to be responsive to the incremental movements of the receiving 18 means for stepping the ratchet in accordance with the movements.

24. In a coin mechanism as defined in claim 22 wherein the movable ratchet comprises a pair of ratchet arms and the ratchet pawl means comprises a pair of ratchet pawl arms, each arranged in engagement with one of the ratchet arms, one of the pawl arms being arranged in a stationery position and the other pawl arm being coupled to be responsive to the incremental movements of the receiving means.

25. In a coin mechanism as defined in claim 20 wherein the swingable means is a counter-balanced arm mounting a plurality of spaced apart pairs of pins for receiving and holding the coins of different legal value as they emerge from an individual coin channel, each pair of pins being spaced apart a distance for momentarily holding a coin of the correct legal value in accordance with the assigned coin value of the individual channel the pair of pins are spaced adjacent to.

26. In a coin receiving mechanism including means for sorting coins inserted into the mechanism in accordance with their legal value,

means for receiving the sorted coins and for producing increments of movement only in response to the legal value of the received coins of correct legal values while rejecting the coins of incorrect legal values without producing an incremental movement, and

mechanical stepping means coupled to be responsive to the receiving means by moving in steps in response to the increments of movement imparted thereto for totalizing the incremental movements and thereby totalizing the value of the received coins, said stepping means comprises a pair of ratchet arms and ratchet pawl means having a pair of ratchet pawl arms each arranged in engagement with one of the ratchet arms, one of the pawl arms being arranged in a stationary position and the other pawl arm being coupled to be responsive to the incremental movements of the receiving means, said mechanical stepping means having a preselected terminal point for all total coin values to be accumulated by the mechanical means and including means for selecting a plurality of starting points for the stepping means in accordance with the desired total coin values to be accumulated by the stepping means.

27. In a coin receiving mechanism as defined in claim 26 including means for changing the total coin values to be accumulated by the selection means. 

1. A coin mechanism comprising a housing having means for inserting coins therein, means for receiving and sorting the coins in accordance with their legal value, means for receiving the coins and producing increments of movement in accordance with the weight of the coins, ratchet means coupled to said receiving means to be movable in response to the movement of the receiving means for totalizing same, means for setting the starting point of the ratchet means in accordance with a desired total value of coins, said ratchet means being movable to the same preselected location for each preselected total value of coins, and manually operated means for sensing the arrival of the ratchet means at the same preselected location to release a controlled device only in response to the sensing of the arrival of the ratchet means at said preselected location.
 2. A coin mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said sensing means is operative for releasing a controlled device by engaging the ratchet means when it has been moved to the preselected location.
 3. A coin mechanism for controlling the latching and unlatching of a controlled device comprising a housing having single means for allowing coins of different legal value to be inserted therein, means constructed and defined for providing a plurality of individual coin channels to receive coins of the same legal value, means arranged between said single means and said plurality of channels for sorting the received coins on the basis of their diameters to cause the coins to be directed into the individual channels in accordance with the legal value of the coin, swingable means coupled to the housing and receiving the coins from the individual channels at different preselected assigned locations thereon in accordance with the legal value of the coin to impart a swinging movement thereto only in response to a coin of the correct legal value impinging at the correct assigned location and producing a swinging movement in response to and in accordance with the weight of the received coin, a coin of the incorrect legal value not being effective to impart a swinging movement to the swingable means, mechanical means coupled to be responsive to the swinging movements of said swingable means to move in increments from a preselected starting position towards a a preselected terminal position for totalizing same and thereby the coins, the preselected terminal position being the same position selected to represent any desired total value of coins and having a different starting position for the different total values for releasing a controlled device, and manually operated means for sensing the arrival of the mechanical means at the preselected terminal position and for releasing a controlled device in response only to the sensing of the arrival of said mechanical means at the preselected terminal position.
 4. A coin mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said sensing means is operative for releasing a controlled device by engaging the mechanical means only when it has been moved to the preselected terminal position.
 5. A coin mechanism as defined in claim 4 wherein the mechanical means comprises ratchet pawl means and includes means for varying the starting position of said Means to start the totalizing operations in accordance with preselected total coin values.
 6. A coin mechanism as defined in claim 5 wherein said mechanism includes coin collecting means for receiving the valid and invalid coins inserted into the mechanism and conveyed therethrough.
 7. A coin mechanism as defined in claim 6 including coin reject door means arranged with said coin collecting means for transferring rejected coins to a reject receptacle, means for defining a reject coin receptacle for receiving the coins passing through said coin reject door, coin accept door means arranged with said coin collecting means for transferring acceptable coins to a coin storage receptacle and coin storage means for receiving the coins passing through said coin accept door means.
 8. A coin mechanism as defined in claim 7 wherein the reject coin receptacle is accessible to the operator for retrieving the coins therein and the coins received in the coin storage means are inaccessible to the operator.
 9. A coin mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said means defining the coin channels comprise spaced apart walls and includes means for uniformly moving the walls apart to provide clearance throughout the mechanism for clearing any coins jammed therebetween.
 10. A coin mechanism comprising a housing having means for inserting coins therein, means for receiving and sorting coins inserted in the housing according to their legal value, said means including means for sorting valid from invalid coins, means for receiving the sorted coins and being movable in increments only in response to the reception of coins of correct legal value for totalizing the value thereof, said means being adjustable for changing the starting point for totalizing the coins to preselected total values and having a single end point for all selected total values, means for sensing the arrival of the totalizing means at a single end point of the totalizer means and for releasing a controlled device only in response to the sensing of the arrival of said totalizer at said end point and operable by the mechanism operator, means responsive to the release of the controlled device for resetting the totalizer means, a first coin storage means, said resetting means including means for conveying the totalized coins into the first coin storage means through the totalizing means, reject means operable by the mechanism operator for rejecting invalid coins and valid coins of the incorrect legal value from operating the totalizing means and coupled to the totalizing means for resetting same to its starting point upon operation of same, a second coin storage means, and means coupled to be responsive to the operation of the reject means for conveying the coins inserted into the mechanism to the second coin storage means.
 11. A coin mechanism as defined in claim 10 including means for clearing the mechanism throughout in the event coins are jammed therein.
 12. A coin mechanism as defined in claim 10 including interlock means coupled between said release means and said reject means for preventing the simultaneous actuation of both of said means.
 13. A coin mechanism comprising a housing having a single aperture for inserting coins of preselected legal values therein, means constructed and defined for providing individual coin channels for receiving and conveying coins only of preselected legal values means for sorting the coins according to their legal value and conveying them into the corresponding individual channel for coins of the same legal value, totalizing means receiving the coins of the correct legal value from each of the individual coin channels and being mechanically movable for totaling the legal value of only the coins of the correct legal values, said totalizing means being adjustable for indicating preselected different total coin values and having a preselected total position for all preselected totals and a starting position depEndent on the preselected total to be sensed, release means operable by the mechanism operator for releasing a controlled device in response to the correct total of coins being inserted into the mechanism and in response to the sensing of the arrival of the totalizing means at said total position by the release means, coin storage means for receiving the coins inserted into the mechanism housing conveyed through said totalizing means, and resetting means coupled to be responsive to the operation of said release means for resetting said totalizing means to its starting position and conveying the coins to said storage means.
 14. A coin mechanism as defined in claim 13 wherein the sorting means includes means for serially receiving coins of different legal value and sorting them on the basis of their diameter for conveying them to the corresponding individual channel for coins of said value.
 15. A coin mechanism as defined in claim 13 including a second coin storage means and reject means operable by the mechanism operator for conveying any coins, valid or invalid, into the second coin storage means in response to the operation thereof, said reject means including means coupled to be responsive to the operation of the reject means for resetting the totalizing means to its selected starting position.
 16. A coin mechanism as defined in claim 15 wherein said second coin storage means is accessible to the mechanism operator to allow him to retrieve his coins.
 17. A coin mechanism as defined in claim 15 including means for sorting invalid coins from the valid coins inserted into the housing.
 18. A coin mechanism as defined in claim 17 including means operable by the mechanism operator for clearing the mechanism throughout from invalid and/or jammed coins.
 19. A coin mechanism as defined in claim 15 including interlock means coupled between said release means and said reject means for preventing the simultaneous actuation of both of said means.
 20. In a coin mechanism comprising a housing having a single aperture for inserting coins of different legal value therein, means constructed and defined for providing a plurality of individual coin channels to receive coins of the same legal value wherein each channel receives coins of different legal value from any other channel, means for sorting coins of different legal value inserted into said aperture in accordance with their legal value and distributing the coins into the correct coin channel, swingable means receiving the coins as they exit from the individual channels for swinging an amount related to the legal value of the coin only in response to the receipt of a coin of the correct legal value from the correct individual channel, said means including a plurality of coin-arresting means spaced apart preselected distances for receiving and momentarily holding the coins in accordance with their diameters to impart movement to said means in accordance with their weight only when a coin of the correct legal value is engaged by the arresting means, mechanical stepping means coupled to be responsive to the movements of the swingable means for totalizing the movements of the swingable means, said mechanical means having a preselected terminal point for all total coin values to be accumulated by the mechanical means and including means for selecting and defining a plurality of starting points for the coin accumulation in accordance with the desired total coin value to be accumulated, and manually operated means for sensing the arrival of the mechanical means at the terminal point of the mechanical means to release a controlled device only in response to the arrival of the mechanical means at said terminal point.
 21. In a coin mechanism as defined in claim 20 wherein the coin-arresting means are round pins.
 22. In a coin mechanism as defined in claim 20 wherein the sorting means comprises a plurality of counter-balanced swingable gates arranged to receive coins in a sequentiaL relationship as they are inserted into the mechanism, each gate carrying a pair of pins spaced apart a preselected distance for receiving and holding a coin of a preselected diameter, the spacing of the pins for each gate decreasing with the increase of the distance the coins travel through the mechanism, the gate holding a coin of the correct legal value being rotated in response to the presence of the coin between the pins thereof until the gate is swung to a position to allow the coin to be released therefrom and thereby be distributed into the correct coin channel.
 23. In a coin mechanism as defined in claim 22 wherein the stepping means comprises a movable ratchet and ratchet pawl means coupled to be responsive to the incremental movements of the receiving means for stepping the ratchet in accordance with the movements.
 24. In a coin mechanism as defined in claim 22 wherein the movable ratchet comprises a pair of ratchet arms and the ratchet pawl means comprises a pair of ratchet pawl arms, each arranged in engagement with one of the ratchet arms, one of the pawl arms being arranged in a stationery position and the other pawl arm being coupled to be responsive to the incremental movements of the receiving means.
 25. In a coin mechanism as defined in claim 20 wherein the swingable means is a counter-balanced arm mounting a plurality of spaced apart pairs of pins for receiving and holding the coins of different legal value as they emerge from an individual coin channel, each pair of pins being spaced apart a distance for momentarily holding a coin of the correct legal value in accordance with the assigned coin value of the individual channel the pair of pins are spaced adjacent to.
 26. In a coin receiving mechanism including means for sorting coins inserted into the mechanism in accordance with their legal value, means for receiving the sorted coins and for producing increments of movement only in response to the legal value of the received coins of correct legal values while rejecting the coins of incorrect legal values without producing an incremental movement, and mechanical stepping means coupled to be responsive to the receiving means by moving in steps in response to the increments of movement imparted thereto for totalizing the incremental movements and thereby totalizing the value of the received coins, said stepping means comprises a pair of ratchet arms and ratchet pawl means having a pair of ratchet pawl arms each arranged in engagement with one of the ratchet arms, one of the pawl arms being arranged in a stationary position and the other pawl arm being coupled to be responsive to the incremental movements of the receiving means, said mechanical stepping means having a preselected terminal point for all total coin values to be accumulated by the mechanical means and including means for selecting a plurality of starting points for the stepping means in accordance with the desired total coin values to be accumulated by the stepping means.
 27. In a coin receiving mechanism as defined in claim 26 including means for changing the total coin values to be accumulated by the selection means. 